Teaching Early Childhood Education, M.A.T.

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Graduate Faculty: Inna Dolzhenko, Patricia Steinhaus

Degrees leading to Licensure with Early Childhood Endorsement

Mission and Purpose of the Department

The mission of the department of Early Childhood and Bilingual Education Department (ECBE) is aligned with that of the college. As professionals we are committed to: (1) serve in educational organizations and related public and private agencies and institutions; (2) engage in research and development activities; and (3) provide service to the community, university, and professional groups. In addition, we have included social/emotional, infant mental and health and policy/advocacy within our course content. These ideas are embedded in our mission and vision.

The Early Childhood-Primary Program meets the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Early Childhood Education Program Standards and the Illinois Teaching Standards.

Degree Options

The Early Childhood-Primary Program offers two types of graduate programs:

Master of Arts in Teaching degrees which lead to a Professional Educator License with an Endorsement in Early Childhood, Subsequent Licensure Endorsement in Early Childhood, or Professional Educator License with an Endorsement in Early Childhood through post-baccalaureate credential.
Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood which are designed for graduate students seeking more in-depth study in Early Childhood, specialization in a specific area of the Early Childhood discipline, or the addition of endorsement to a Professional Educator License with an Endorsement in Early Childhood.

Master of Arts in Teaching Early Childhood Education [60 Credit Hours]

The department offers two options for a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree in Early Childhood Education.

Option One provides individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree in another discipline the opportunity to earn a master’s degree and an Illinois Professional Educator License with early childhood endorsement. Initial licensure requires successful completion of the Illinois Early Childhood Content Area Test, and an edTPA portfolio.

Option Two provides individuals who have acquired an Illinois Professional Teaching License with an endorsement in an area to earn a subsequent endorsement and a master’s degree in ISBE Early Childhood Education. Those seeking a subsequent endorsement in Early Childhood must pass the Early Childhood Content Area Test but are not required to complete an edTPA portfolio in an early childhood classroom.

General Requirements

Students are responsible for meeting the program and College requirements in effect at the time they officially register in a program leading to licensure at Chicago State University regardless of when they were admitted to the University.
Admission to the degree program is contingent upon good academic standing and acceptance by the department.
Formal admission to the College of Education as a degree-seeking student in a pre-professional program is based on current COE requirements.
Graduation requirements include a minimum of 33 credit hours of the student’s course work completed at the 5000-level; including courses identified to meet content area designation requirements, as approved by the program in consultation with the department for the specified content area designation.
No more than two grades of C may be applied toward the degree.
A full academic schedule of courses for graduate students is nine semester credit hours (6 hrs. during summer). Exceptions to this policy may be made only with the approval of the department.
Candidates must abide by all College policies stated in this catalog, unless exceptions are processed through established department, college and university procedures, documented in writing.
Completion of all master’s degree requirements, including the Candidate Work Sample Capstone Project, must be completed within six years.

Education Option One: Initial Licensure

Admission Requirements

Provide two transcript(s) as evidence of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, and that the final 60 credit hours of undergraduate and/or graduate courses demonstrate a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Credit towards required courses in the program will only be awarded for grades of C or higher.
Submit proof that undergraduate coursework meets a minimum grade of C threshold in the following general education requirements:
- Three credit hours in each of composition II, speech, college-level mathematics, Art Appreciation, Music Appreciation, Political Science, U.S. History, Geography, biological science, physical science, earth/space science (at least one science course must include a laboratory). General Education course requirements for licensure are subject to change by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Contact the Office of Teacher Licensure for more information at https://www.csu.edu/collegeofeducation/licensure.htm.
- One course which incorporates multicultural or global perspectives.

Program Completion and Graduation Requirements

General program completion and graduation requirements include completing an application for graduation with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all required and elective courses in professional education and the designated content area, as well as completion of the following addition licensure requirements:
- Pre-clinical and clinical fieldwork forms documenting 100 clock hours are submitted to the Office of Field Placement. A summer practicum can be completed to make up missing field hours.
- Field Practicum and Student Teaching Clinical Experiences successfully completed.
- All College of Education and Program Assessments submitted in the LiveText by Watermark courseware domain, including the Candidate Work Sample (edTPA) Capstone Project and Professional Portfolio.
Illinois State Board of Education licensure examination / assessments, including the Content Area Test in the discipline. Proof of passing must be submitted to the academic program by announced due dates PRIOR to permission given to register for the final Student Teaching clinical experience course.
- Spring Semester Student Teaching - October 15th in the prior Fall Semester as part of the Application for Student Teaching Process
- Fall Semester Student Teaching - March 15th * in the prior Spring Semester as part of the Application for Student Teaching Process * Extensions to June 30th can be granted with program approval.
- All requirements are met for state licensure as mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education, in consultation with the Office of Teacher Licensure.

Required Courses [60 credit hours]

Students are required to take a minimum of 34 credit hours at the graduate level in Early Childhood Education.

* Licensure in Early Childhood Education can be obtained before completing ECH 5970 or ED 5690.

Required Education Courses (9 credit hours):

ED 5312 - Teaching with Technology Credit Hours: 3
S ED 5301 - Char Except Children Credit Hours: 3
ESL 5120 - Teaching ESL Credit Hours: 3 *

Additional required courses in Early Childhood Courses:

ECH 5440 - Develop Infancy Credit Hours: 3
ECH 5450 - Student Teaching PreK - 2 Credit Hours: 6
ECH 5970 - Action Research ECH Credit Hours: 2 and
ECH 5971 - ECH Action Resrch Prjct Credit Hours: 1 to 3

Option Two: Subsequent Endorsement/Certificate Option (43 credit hours)

Admissions Requirements

Illinois Professional Educator License
Three months of teaching experience as a licensed teacher.
Provide two transcript(s) as evidence of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, and that the final 60 credit hours of undergraduate and/or graduate courses demonstrate a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Credit towards required courses in the program will only be awarded for grades of C or higher.

Prerequisites:

S ED 4301
or
S ED 5301 - Char Except Children Credit Hours: 3
S ED 4303
or
S ED 5303 - Students w/Excep Nds Credit Hours: 2
or
ECSE 4417
or
ECSE 5417 - Meth Instruc ECSE Credit Hours: 2
ED 4312
or
ED 5312 - Teaching with Technology Credit Hours: 3
ESL 4120
or
ESL 5120 - Teaching ESL Credit Hours: 3

Program Completion Requirements for Subsequent Licensure

General program completion and graduation requirements include completing an application for graduation with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all required and elective courses, and completion of the following addition licensure requirements:
- All College of Education and Program Assessments submitted in the LiveText by Watermark courseware domain, including the Candidate Work Sample (edTPA) Capstone Project and Professional Portfolio.
Illinois State Board of Education licensure examination / assessments, including the Content Area Test in the discipline. Proof of passing must be submitted to the academic program by announced due dates PRIOR to permission given to register for the final Student Teaching clinical experience course.
- Spring Semester Student Teaching - October 15th in the prior Fall Semester as part of the Application for Student Teaching Process
- Fall Semester Student Teaching - March 15th * in the prior Spring Semester as part of the Application for Student Teaching Process
  * Extensions to June 30th can be granted with program approval.
- All requirements are met for state licensure as mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education, in consultation with the Office of Teacher Licensure.